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There's little information on what the satellite will do in the article. Yes, it's a communication satellite, but as far as I'm aware more detail should be known by the time of launch. E.g. is it going to be used for satellite radio? Satellite telephony? (The parent company appears to have involvement in these.) Does the satellite not already have customers? Nil Einne (talk) 07:09, 2 July 2009 (UTC)

The article stated the satellite"...has a launch mass of 6,910 kilograms (15,200 lb)". Now, the usual definition of launch mass comprises the launch vehicle (in this case the Ariane 5), the fuel load, and the payload, which is the satellite proper.

Now, the Ariane 5 has a mass of 777,000 kg (1,712,000 lb), so it cannnot acoount for the above figure for the launch mass. Hence, the use of the term "launch mass" is improper when speaking of just 6,910 kilograms, which, it is safe to assume, is the net mass of the satellite, not a "launch mass". I have removed the word "launch", leaving "mass" alone. Anyhow, that is what Gunter's Space Page says. --AVM (talk) 13:56, 3 July 2009 (UTC)

In terms of spacecraft, the launch mass is just the fuelled spacecraft. You're confusing the launch mass of the spacecraft with the launch mass of the rocket. "Mass" on its own can refer to either the launch mass, or the dry mass, which is the spacecraft without fuel, which is significantly less. --GW… 14:01, 3 July 2009 (UTC)

Thanks, but now I'm still confused. By "spacecraft" do you mean the payload, thas is, the satellite? That would explain your reasoning, and I guess I'll have to put back the word "launch". Sadly, we have no clue as how big the difference between the satellite's launch mass and its dry mass is.--AVM (talk) 14:32, 3 July 2009 (UTC)

The Terrestar-1 satellite, launched in 2008, is as big as a school bus, connects to a tiny handset called the Genus, and proves that communication satellites can provide data services effectively. The company that owns that satellite filed for chapter-11 bankruptcy protection on October 19th 2010.